Upcoming policy issue

A quarter of U.S. households that relied on the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) to help pay for internet will drop their connections. That finding, along with others, was included in a recent Maravedis report, a market intelligence firm that has a focus on wireless infrastructure, multifamily connectivity, and smart technologies.

Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel has asked her fellow commissioner to consider either a ban or constraint on bulk billing. We predicted the Chair’s proposal would hit significant resistance. The record reveals that the resistance is strong, coming not just from the expected ISPs but also from groups traditionally at odds with ISPs, groups generally aligned with low-income consumers, and those concerned about low-income adoption. Considering the opposition:

Here’s what to expect for the Federal Communications Commission's jam-packed July Open Meeting agenda.

What can be done for the 23 million households that relied on the Affordable Connectivity Program? The Federal Communications Commission could start a proceeding to increase the amount of money in the USF so that it can fund an ACP-like subsidy. It has the power under the Communications Act, it has a consistent funding source, and it has a reason with the ACP’s expiration—an event former FCC Chief of Staff Blair Levin describes as the “biggest step any country has ever taken to widen, rather than close, its digital divide.” Given all this, why doesn’t the FCC act?

Lifeline and the now defunct Affordable Connectivity Program have helped millions of families afford Internet services that support online learning, remote work, and access to telehealth, among many other uses linked to social and economic wellbeing. However, individuals and families entitled to receive these benefits often have to navigate a complex web of procedures to demonstrate eligibility, enroll in the program and receive services.

A recent Harris-Guardian poll shows that the public’s perception of the economy is different than economic reality. Most things that the majority of Americans believe about the economy are wrong. I have to say this surprised me more than it probably should have. 

This episode of The Divide features Brandy Reitter, executive director for Colorado's broadband office.

I recently testified at a Senate Communications Subcommittee Hearing in support of legislation to extend the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP).

Breezeline, LICT Corporation, and Longmont Power & Communications are the latest broadband providers to offer an alternative to the federal government’s Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), which offered a $30 per month discount on internet service to low-income households and was terminated in May. The new programs from these companies offer discounted service to low-income households that were on the ACP and in two cases offer the lower-cost service to new households that meet the income eligibility requirements. Though each company’s discount offering is slightly different—both in

It looks like Congress will remain deadlocked over how to release spectrum for 5G.